NASA’sMars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN ( MAVEN)spacecraft arrived at the Red Planet back in September . Its foreign mission is to study the martian standard atmosphere in hope of learning more about what had happen to it , and why Mars is no longer able to sustain liquified urine on the control surface . Part of this yr - recollective mission will admit five low dips toward the planet ’s aerofoil so as to study the lower facet of the upper atmosphere . The first of these five dips has recently been carried out , NASA ’s Goddard Space Flight Center has announced .
" During normal science mapping , we make measurements between an altitude of about 150 km and 6,200 klick ( 93 mi and 3,853 mi ) above the surface , " MAVEN PI Bruce Jakosky said in apress release . " During the deep - dip campaigns , we bring down the lowest EL in the orbit , make love as periapsis , to about 125 km ( 78 miles ) which allows us to take measurements throughout the entire upper air . ”
The height plunge might not seem very significant considering the vast range of altitude it orbits under normal precondition , but this position the spacecraft in a placement to analyse a layer of the atmospheric state it would not normally be able-bodied to get at . The density of the upper ambiance changes well , with the bottom end being up to 10 times more dull than the top . These deep dips will permit scientist to understand the density at the bottom , and see how it changes throughout .
" We are concerned in the connexion that run from the scurvy ambiance to the upper atmosphere and then to escape to space , " Jakosky explained . " We are valuate all of the relevant regions and the connections between them . ”
Part of what do the bass plunge so daring is how the ballistic capsule will respond when take flight through the thicker air . This extra puff make pregnant heat through clash , which could potentially be elusive to the instruments that were meant to be manoeuvre at much low-pitched temperature .
" Although we changed the altitude of the space vehicle , we actually aimed at a sure atmospheric density , ” Jakosky continued . " We wanted to go as deeply as we can without putting the ballistic capsule or instruments at risk . ”
After MAVEN was returned within the ambit of its normal cruising altitude , scientists began sifting through the incredible amount of data that was returned . It is desire that this data plant , as well as the four to come , will aid astronomers understand how the standard pressure of Mars depleted over time .
